- Ferrari has revealed two hardcore versions of its 296 GTB/GTS.
- The 296 Speciale resurrects a name last used on the 458.
- Power climbs 49 hp to 868 hp, weight drops by up to 132 lbs.
Ferrari has just dropped details of its hot 296 and it must be very confident about its abilities because it’s named it after one of the most coveted Ferrari sports cars of the last 50 years.
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The 296 Speciale and its open-top Speciale A sister follow a typical path: more power, more aero, less weight. And the result is the kind of machine that will make mincemeat out of the late, great, naturally-aspirated 458 Speciale on a racetrack, or a road, if you’re unhinged enough to unleash all of the performance.
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New aluminium pistons and titanium conrods from the F80 hypercar help boost the turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 from 654 hp to 690 hp, matching the muscle of the track-only 296 Challenge racer. But even the hybrid system has been to the gym and develops more power thanks to improved cooling.
The Speciale’s total system output stands at 868 hp (880PS), up from the regular 296’s 819 hp (830 PS), and it’s all channeled to the rear wheels though an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with optimised shift points.
Ferrari quotes a 2.8-second zero to 62 mph (100 kmh) time, says 124 mph (200 kmh) is done with in 7 seconds and that the Speciale can lap the automaker’s Fiorano track in 1 m 19 seconds. The stock 296 GT8’s numbers for comparison are 2.9 and 7.3 seconds, and a the base car with the Fiorano package takes 2 seconds longer to complete a lap.
Greater use of carbon, including on the stripped-down interior, plus lighter engine components cuts the 296‘s weight by up to 132 lbs (60 kg), and downforce is improved by 20 percent through new bumpers, a huge diffuser and a new retractable spoiler.
Capitalising on that aero work is a chassis that sits 5 mm closer to the floor and comes equipped with a bespoke version of Michelin’s Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, titanium springs and Multimatic dampers derived from the shocks on the 296 GT3 racer. They only have a single damping rate, but Ferrari claims it’s worked hard to make them work on both road and track. Ferrari’s cars always ride well, but this is going to be much busier on the road than the base car, and noisier, too (in a good way) thanks to the bare interior and a larger symposer tube channeling engine sounds to the cabin.
You can have a Speciale in any color, but we’re loving the new Verde Nurburgring green developed specifically for this model. Flick through the gallery below and see how it pops compared to the boring red of the roofless Speciale A.
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Frankly, though, we’d take one in any color, but since Ferrari is restricting sales to people who’ve bought one of its cars recently, we’ll not be on the list. What do you think of the 296 Speciale? Is it special enough to carry that fabled name? Leave a comment and let us know.
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